Harley Forum?

[TresCrows]

Each year I see people headed up the highway here to Sturgis. It is an annual migration up 135. All kinds of people headed north. Some are riding, most are on trailers, those riding are usually followed by a truck. The truck is for break downs and of course beer. Most of the trailers are pulled by motorhomes and fancy trucks with trailers loaded with fancy Harleys of all sort.
I do find it interesting they pull them rather than ride them but cannot blame them what with all the heat. Maybe they just don't want them dirty /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. J

 

[Wingnut]

Bob,

I think most people who ride bikes share a camaraderie with other folks that ride bikes ... and almost all will wave to you on the road .... unless they're in a group of Harley's and then all worry what their fellow riders would think of them ... LOL.

The seating position seems to be a real choice-maker when it comes to bikes. My brother is a cruiser guy ... likes that laid back and legs forward style .... doesn't like sitting on my bike. I, on the other hand, have no problem with 700+ miles days on my stock GL1800A ... no boards, no pegs, no custom seat or windscreen.

I used to do a lot of very long days ... but I always dragged my CombiCamp tent trailer behind me ... got tired of sleeping on the ground way too many years ago. Now my idea of roughing it is a cheap motel. I appreciate the decent bed and eating without cooking .... makes the long days of riding easier to take! The kidney belt sure helps too. My idea of a great vacation is what I did this spring .... long ride down to Tennessee/North Carolina ... and then spend all the daylight hours riding the hills .... I'm hoping to do the same thing on Arkansas mountain roads this fall.

ride like it's paid for

pete

 

[Timex]

Hi, pbenven. Something about beemers, tractors, and maintenance that all seems to come together. Not sure how, but it is a good zone for me. Self reliance with regard to farming and equipment carries with it a certain confidence (often cloaked by desperation) that cannot be overlooked. My 1982 BMW requires constant vigilance since my life depends on proper operation, just as all of us need tractors and equipment that works when we need it.

Whatever we choose - tractors, attachments, motorcycles, (spouses) - we are the responsible caretakers. If our budget allows for it, we can transfer that responsibility to someone else (except for spouses), but when I am mowing at midnight to avoid the summer heat, who do I call?

I might choose a Honda rather than a Harley. Reliability over form.

 

[looch]

Speaking of responsible caretakers, here's a link to my site with some pics of a vintage ralley that was held last weekend.

 

[Timex]

pbenven - nice pics. Which one is yours? Mine's too covered with bugs to photograph - I keep waiting for rain to take a ride to wash it off. Timex

 

[looch]

I'm kicking myself for not inquiring further about that little Ducati. No photos of mine from that show. I have a '99 F650ST.

 

[Wingnut]

heh heh heh
OK ... now tell us how you really feel!

I'm with you .... loud pipes serve only to attract attention, usually the wrong kind .... and the bareheaded look may be "free" but utterly stupid. With all the crap flying around out there, it's just WAY too easy to get hit. It just has to be the attiitude thing, because most of the "free" folks seem to wear fancy hair coverings .... which do nothing except "look cool" to each other. And I wince everytime I see folks - especially the squids but even the tourers, wearing cutoffs/shorts, tank tops/t-shirts and sneakers/sandals. Man ... I've been hit by bees, grasshoppers and the like at 80mph and it hurts thru the jeans and even the riding jacket or even the leathers!
Of course, I am in favor of letting people ride lid-less as long as they sign a waiver that they, personally, will pay all medical expenses should they manage to become injured .... and their usual response is that they're insured ... like that makes a difference. Wonder if they have any idea where insurance payouts come from? Here in Michigan, I'm now paying an extra $105 per vehicle per year to protect the poor insurance companies from catastophic medical claims ... just because we have a deluded government that believes in such socialist methods. (Latest statictics show that about 25% of Detroit motorists are insured).
Oh well, we all know that loud pipes save lives, right?

pete

 

[Timex]

Wingnut - Loud pipes. They sound great at the drag strip. With regard to motorcycles, I replaced my stock BMW euro-crap wimps with Italian (EYE-talian) highway blasters. Needed a new 10 amp circuit to run them. You can hear me a mile away.

With regards to helmets and other protection, I have gone down with full body armor - it hurts! Can't imagine leaving most of my flesh on the road because I was looking cool.

Motorcycling is just supposed to be fun. Tractoring is fun with some work if you're not careful. It's the "Good Stuff" we should live for. Timex

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Pete,

Some of my self insured clients (medical insurance) have built into their contract wording that limits payment for motorcycle accidents to $20,000 if you have an accident while not wearing a helmet.

Of course I have others that refuse to add this because they wonder where they stop--such as implementing the same limit for smokers who get cancer......the list goes on and on.

In Minnesota--traditionally a state with a history of leading the way in passing laws to protect people, we do not have a mandatory helmet law. In fact, there is very strong opposition to the law (by several organizations).

Bob

 

[Wingnut]

Oh, I agree, Timex, motorcycling IS supposed to be fun. I guess the problem is that there are many different definitions of "fun". Some people's definition seem to consist of activities that will draw attention to them - pushing over gravestones, painting the water tower with grafitti, driving down the street with the bass turned up so loud that it rattles people's windows ... or racing down my country road on a Hog with no muffler or something resembling a "muffler" that accentuates the noise.
Myself, I don't consider activities like that "fun" ... I look more for activities that bring a smile to my face WITHOUT annoying others. For example, riding my quiet Goldwing along a technically challenging (twisty and hilly) road while listening to music at a volume that I can hear it ... AND the birds chirping in the trees.
I can have fun without giving cage drivers a case of road rage to take out on the next innocent biker.
For me, motorcycling IS fun .... even yesterday when I managed to get caught in the rain in my work clothes (dress clothes) and had the dickens scared out of my by a very close lighteneing strike (you know ... when you smell the ozone immediately after the crack that just about lifts your bike ...). Fun is when that 7 mile trip home takes you an hour because you decide that a 20 mile+ detour to get gas is a good idea ... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

pete

 

[Timex]

Wingnut - Out here in the Southwest gas is a little farther away. In the winter months when I tell the Mrs I have to ride out to charge the battery, I might be gone for the better part of a day. In the warmer months, I think nothing of riding a few hundred miles for a decent cheeseburger. The BMW just keeps on ticking. Timex

 

[DanCT]

Hi Jerry, Here's a pic of the 1984 H-D FLH that I bought new 19 years ago this month. I still get a smile every time I ride and have never regretted the purchase. This was the last year with the Shovelhead engine and I have had no problems with it all these years. It's still pretty much stock (including the muffler) as it came off the showroom floor. Looks pretty good next to the tc30 doesn't it?

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Very Nice

 

[Wingnut]

Wow .... nice shape! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[TresCrows]

I don't guess we ever found that web site. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. J

 

[SnailTraX]

Here you go Mrwurm, I forgot about this request but here are some links for you. I have been away. And yes, loud pipes do save lives, and my all time favorite comeback for non Harley types,

"If you have to ask why, then you wouldn't understand"

SnailTraX

Enjoy

http://www.harleydavidsonforum.com/
http://forums.delphiforums.com/hawgryder?mf=1
http://www.harleypeople.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi
http://www.vtwin.org/forum/

 

[Wingnut]

did you guys see the picture floating around the 'net, of the BMW billboard near Milwaukee? It says: "We'd wish you a happy 100th anniversary, but you wouldn't hear us."
LOL

pete

 

[Timex]

In 20 years the Harley riders can wish a happy 100th to the BMW riders, most of whom will be too OLD to hear!

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> "We'd wish you a happy 100th anniversary, but you wouldn't hear us." </font>

That's FUNNY! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif